I’ve read multiple threads of people asking for advice on ECs because I didn’t get the replies I was looking for on my thread. I noticed that everyone says you should try to get a leadership role in an EC for college apps. Can you not be in clubs you enjoy and not compete for leadership roles? Also if everyone is yearning for leader than won’t that lead to more complications within the club?
That is one of those College Confidential myths. Not everyone needs to be president of something.
What you do need is to show dedication, commitment, and meaningful contribution to some of your activities.
Someone who has a title like president but has had a very superficial level of involvement in an activity could be viewed less favorably than someone who participated in a meaningful way. The way you describe your activities in the application will make the difference.
In my opinion, you should choose extracurriculars because you enjoy them, not thinking about college admissions. You are working hard in school, and your extracurriculars should be a release from pressure. Do them because they are fun!
If you do things you enjoy, you will have experiences along the way and develop skills that you may not even realize are important until you sit down to work on your application in the August before your senior year. You will be an interesting candidate to admissions officers because you are genuinely interested in those activities and can tell a meaningful story about them.
Do not worry now about what “learning” will occur or what “story” you will tell. You do not know yet. You cannot know yet. You do not always know what is significant until you look back on it.
Exactly as @TheGreyKing said. If the ideal applicant is someone with a leadership role, then there would be tons and tons of clubs at high schools formed for the sole purpose of leadership (it has happened already and I’m not trying to specifically discredit anyone’s hard work in a club)
Leadership
When I was a senior in HS, I was a 4 yr Varsity soccer goalie. The coach picked captains my senior year, and it wasn’t me. I was mildly disappointed. In College, they started a Women’s varsity soccer team (this was way back). I helped recruit players, I showed players kicking techniques. Not because I was trying to get anything out of it for myself, but because I wanted our team to succeed. I was named Captain. Then I was ready…I was showing leadership.
Leadership can be President of a club or Captain of the Team or Section Leader in Band. But it can also be:
-Student involved in ethnic community center for years and then is asked to teach little kids
-Actual officer in a club
-Watched his little brother after school and encouraged parents to sign up brother for sports team and took him to practice
-Within a club, organized an activity for that club
-Lead a community service activity
-Lead singer of a band - sings, chooses set list, organizes transportation for other members
-Summer Camp counselor
-Boy Scout Eagle Award/Girl Scout Gold Award
-EMT Cadet
-Boys State/Girls State
Is it strictly necessary? No…there are many colleges that admit based on GPA/SAT. But for those that take ECs into account, leadership is a good thing.